Triumphrat

Bonnevillet140v · 04-01-2008

I have found that the rear brake switch is not illuminating the rear brake lamp when the rear brake is applied. I have tested the switch, to the best of my ability, with an AVO,, for continuity, through the switch when the brake is applied. That is OK. I know there is a live feed to the switch as I blew a fuse by accidentally letting the live touch the frame. How can I check the continuity of the wireing between the neutral wire from the rear brake switch & the rear lamp ? I assume that if I get a reading between the live & neutral wires at the brake switch then there is continuity ? The brake lamp illuninates OK when the front brake is applied. I would appreciate some help as electrics are not exactly my strong point !

This all started whilst I was renewing the boot over the rear brake light switch. Incidentally, does it matter which wire goes on which terminal ?
Chris

Calliway · 04-01-2008

Well ok, does your tester have a continutiy tester on it? Or how about an ohm meter?

To test the switch you put the negative lead on one side of the switch and the positive on the other. With the brake lever in the off position the switch should have no continuity. With the brake lever down the switch should have an open circuit and the tester should beep or show a reading of voltage going through the switch. If that is good then do the same with the light and the switch. Go back to the light and put one lead on the wire coming from the switch and put the other lead on the switch. That will test the wire to make sure there are no shorts. Not really much else you can check. If the switch is good its good.

I am not sure if the switch is adjustable but soem are depending on how far it is screwed in place.

Bonnevillet140v · 04-01-2008

Hi Calliway.
Yes the meter has a continuity function.
I will get to work, as suggested, on the nuetral wire from the switch to the lamp next. Can anyone else add more tests I can do ??

Chrisl
[Does your tester have a continutiy tester on it? Or how about an ohm meter?

To test the switch you put the negative lead on one side of the switch and the positive on the other. With the brake lever in the off position the switch should have no continuitly. With the brake lever down the switch should have an open circuit and the tester should beep or show a reading of voltage going through the switch. If that is good then do the same with the light and the switch. Go back to the light and put one lead on the wire coming from the switch and put the other lead on the switch. That will test the wire to make sure there are no shorts. Not really much else you can check. If the switch is good its good.

I am not sure if the switch is adjustable but soem are depending on how far it is screwed in place.[/quote]

DEcosse · 04-01-2008

Forget about your AVO for now - Simply take one wire connection off the brake switch & touch to the other wire terminal (or short between the two termnals with screwdriver or whatever)
If the lamp illuminates, you have a switch problem - if it doesn't you have a wiring issue.
Report back on this 30 sec test & we'll take it from there.

oldndumb · 04-01-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEcosse

Forget about your AVO for now - Simply take one wire connection off the brake switch & touch to the other wire terminal (or short between the two termnals with screwdriver or whatever)
If the lamp illuminates, you have a switch problem - if it doesn't you have a wiring issue.
Report back on this 30 sec test & we'll take it from there.

Does it make any difference if the screwdriver is Phillips or Reed and Prince?